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9. | LIKELY ATTITUDE OF PARTICIPATING COUNTRIES AT THE MEETING
ON INDO-CHINESE REFUGEES IN GENEVA: 20-21 JULY 1979
ASEAN
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1. Apart from Hong Kong, the ASEAN states have been the most affected by the current exodus of refugees from vi Indo-China. They are therefore Likely to be among the most vociferous pleaders for international action to alleviate. the siutation and also the most critical of the developed countries for not, so far, having done more. With the exception of Singapore, they think that the conference should concentrate on the humanitarian rather than the political aspects of the crisis although the communique issued after the Bali meeting of ASEAN Foreign' Ministers appeared to reflect Singapore's line as much, if not more than the other. within this framework there are, however, likely to be differences of emphasis, as shown by a brief resumé of the attitude of the individual countries as follows:-
(a) Thailand, the member state most affected by the exodus with over 200,000 refugees temporarily quartered on her territory, is likely to take a strong line for domestic political reasons. The That Government, while not opposed in principle to the legal movement of persons from the countries of Indo-China, is most anxious that first priority be given to the resettlement of the large numberą of Laotian and Cambodian refugees in Thailand. They are likely
to stress the security problems involved and to ask for
increased material and economic help for Thailand, the creation of more island processing centres and increased settlement
of the refugees in third countries, especially the developed countries. They want China to be asked to accept all the ethnic Chinese refugees. They would be in favour
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